Category Archives: Uncategorized

Off to the other side of the world

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Bob O'H

This is just a brief announcement to explain that as this publishes I should be off on my travels again. This time I’m going further than ever before (no, I’m not travelling by standing on the shoulders of giants). I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Making reviewing boring stuff less boring

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Bob O'H

Over at the Scholarly Kitchen, everyone’s favourite source material for winding up OA advocates, Phil Davis asked about something only tangentially related: Do Uninteresting Papers Really Need Peer Review? In it he lays out a view that is perhaps selfish, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 20 Comments

Prizes Straight from the Pits of Hell

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Bob O'H

This should make predicting this year’s science Nobels easier. Last month, Republican congressman Paul Broun, who also happens to be a member of the US House of Representatives science committee, described evolution, the big bang theory and embryology as ‘lies … Continue reading →

Posted in Silliness, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Altmetrics: what’s the point?

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Bob O'H

A couple of weeks ago Stephen (of this parish) generated a lot of discussion when he complained about the journal impact factor (JIF). I must admit I feel a bit sorry for the JIF. It’s certainly not perfect, but it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in The Society of Science, Uncategorized | 41 Comments

A new really old version of The Elements

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Bob O'H

I hope you’re all fans out Tom Lehrer (“Mr. Lehrer’s muse [is] not fettered by such inhibiting factors as taste.” – NYT, apparently). Well, via those Improbable Research (“Mr. Abraham’s muse [is] not fettered by such inhibiting factors as taste.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Helloooo! I’ve moved (again)

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Bob O'H

I started blogging just over 5 years ago (damn, I missed my blogoversary by a month). The following year, I left Blogspot for Nature Network. Well, now the powers that be have decided to close the NN blogs, and shift … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 20 Comments

Quill and parchment was so much easier

Posted on March 3, 2010 by rpg

I’ve just made a decision about a manuscript I’m editing. Now the software won’t give me the form letter to send to the authors. Aaagh! I have to think of what to write all on my own! I FEEL SO … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

On Editors [THINK UP PITHIER TITLE LATER]

Posted on March 3, 2010 by rpg

There is much excitement on NN today because we’ll finally be getting MT4 as a blogging platform. I’ve just had a great idea for a post, so we’ll see if I can get it ready in time.

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

Carnivalia!

Posted on March 2, 2010 by rpg

There was lots of carnival action yesterday. More below the fold, as well as a new scheme to help make it easier to follow all these science and nature carnivals.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Science Careers and Leslie

Posted on February 25, 2010 by rpg

I had been writing this post, but had put it aside (honest). Yesterday Jenny posted about the same topic, so I’ll take a break from putting envelopes around trees, and finish what I was writing. If you have been hanging … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments